cannabisnews.com: Pot Issue Closer To State Vote Pot Issue Closer To State Vote Posted by CN Staff on May 08, 2002 at 10:46:28 PT By Ashley Bach, The Arizona Republic Source: Arizona Republic A November marijuana showdown between the Maricopa County attorney and a local billionaire is closer to reality. The Senate on Tuesday approved House Concurrent Resolution 2013, which will ask voters to allow judges to send first-time drug offenders to jail. The measure, pushed by County Attorney Rick Romley, now goes to the ballot.Romley wants to provide an alternative on the November ballot to an initiative funded by University of Phoenix founder John Sperling. It would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana and allow marijuana for medical purposes, with the supplies coming from Department of Public Safety contraband.Sperling and his supporters need to gather 101,762 signatures by July 4 to get their initiative on the ballot. If passed, Romley's referendum would tweak one of Sperling's initiatives that was already passed into law. Romley said it also would likely override the decriminalization portion of Sperling's initiative this year, even if both measures passed.Sam Vagenas, spokesman for the Sperling initiative campaign, said Romley's measure is just a smokescreen to distract voters. If measures with conflicting provisions both pass, the one with the most votes takes precedence over any conflicting provisions in the other measure, said Mary Jo Kief, assistant state elections director.Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Author: Ashley Bach, The Arizona RepublicPublished: May 08, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The Arizona Republic Contact: opinions arizonarepublic.com Website: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/ Related Articles:Pot Battle Looming for State http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12717.shtmlBig Bong Theory - Phoenix New Times http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10909.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by Roger Christie on May 09, 2002 at 04:01:44 PT: A 'higher' choice Hey there Arizonans,Aloha. One way to look at this is to forget the November election race for, or against, cannabis enjoyment. Choose cannabis as your religious sacrament today and the 'game is over'. You win no matter how the election turns-out.! Bingo!The First Amendment assures us that 'no law shall prohibit the free exercise of religion.' I love that. Want to practice cannabis spirituality? Do you use cannabis religiously? If you are sincere and legitimate, if cannabis sacrament is mandatory for you to use, and if you enjoy it in private ... you're good to go. Check it out at www.thc-ministry.org.Cannabis is provided by God and protected by law. "It's the high that heals." If we are still free to choose, then you and I get to choose the religion and the sacrament of our liking. I love this planet! All the best to you,Roger ChristieThe Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry "We use cannabis religiously." www.thc-ministry.org (808) 961-0488 The Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry [ Post Comment ] Post Comment